Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

We've been taking care of our youngest grandson more this week, as the nanny is away.  Today we had a grand time with him, except for the nap.  He's decided not to take it.  At eighteen months he doesn't need it, unless, well, he falls asleep in his stroller or the car.  He's tired, you give him his bottle, zip him in his sleeping straight jacket, plug in the pacifer, hand him his kitty, and when you put him down he stands up immediately and cries.  No question who will win the battle:  today I listened 15 minutes and went up and tried to rock him, but as soon as I put him down, screams.  Monday I tried the routine three times, and it took an hour, and then I waved a white flag and prepared to sign documents on terms of surrender.  Today, we gave up and took him to a cafe, then to a park, where he lined up all the trucks, absconded with a little girl's shoes, and generally ran around like the energizer bunny, then on the way home fell asleep in the stroller.  He slept in our front hall in the stroller for an hour, too exhausted to wake himself up.  He bore no resentment however.  He awoke happy and cuddly and demanding "nak" as he calls snack.  He graciously accepted pear slices and drank some milk.  Mommy soon picked him up and murmured about early bedtime.  I have my writing group this evening, so no early bedtime for me.  Drat!